Tallinn, Estonia
Just another beautiful day in the Baltic! Perfect weather, hardly any waves. And Tallinn, the capital of now independent Estonia, beckoned us with open arms. Seen from afar, you can make out the old, tall spires of the churches and cathedrals of the city. Some are Russian Orthodox, but the majority are Lutheran.
Estonia has a very old history. Five thousand years ago, groups of people already lived here. During the ensuing years, this small country has been overrun by every major power in the vicinity: Germans, Poles, Russians, Danes and Swedes. And every one has left their mark.
At last, in 1991, they obtained their independence after having lost it around the turn of last century. On this occasion they were freed from the crumbling Soviet Union. Partly, and probably most importantly, this revolution was attained through singing! This country has a very strong singing legacy, and during the few years preceding 1991, they sang their way to independence at the Song Festival Arena, which we visited this morning. Immediately before that we had been at Catherine’s Park, where the Palace of Catherine was built by Peter the Great.
From there we headed to the New Town, to the Upper Section, visiting the old cathedrals and the more modern Parliament buildings. A short dark tunnel led to the Old Town where we had a short rest at a small restaurant and a nice repast and a drink. The Lower Town has as many shops as the Upper one, and most of them have good quantities and different qualities of amber jewelry. Modern, elegant clothes shops are to be visited, and then part of the old walls of the town, at the base of which sit dozens of stalls selling woolen goods. Sweaters, socks and the most modern and marvelous warm clothes can be found here.
Lunch was aboard the National Geographic Explorer, and again off to the town we went. On this occasion it was to the central square where we met with honored guests Trivimi Velliste, Anne Raudberg and Thomas Raudberg, participants in the long battle for independence against the Soviet Union and key players in the film “The Singing Revolution.” From there we had time to stay in town and have a delicious local dinner, take more photographs, or to return to the ship to put all our ideas in order.
